Irwin and iConGolf Studio Tabbed to Redesign City Park Golf Course

Hale Irwin had an eventful few days in Colorado.

On Tuesday, the three-time U.S. Open and two-time U.S. Senior Open winner was at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs to speak at a press conference at announcing the commencement of ticket sales for the 2018 U.S. Senior Open.

On Thursday, the City and County of Denver recommended the Colorado and World Golf Hall of Famer as part of the team to lead the City Park Golf Course Redesign and construction project.

According to the press announcement, the team will consists of golf course architect/designer iConGolf Studio with golf design advisor Hale Irwin; Saunders Construction with Aspen Corporation; and Clubhouse Architect Johnson Nathan Strohe.

The recommendation will now be considered by Denver City Council and follows a collaborative nine-month selection process driven by a panel of city staff and community representatives, as well as golf and technical experts.

“The identification of a recommended City Park Golf Course Redesign team is a significant milestone in this important project,” said Happy Haynes, Executive Director of Denver Parks and Recreation. “The proposal developed by the Saunders design/build team will allow the City to deliver a project that reduces flood risks in nearby neighborhoods, while ensuring City Park Golf Course continues to be one of Denver’s crown jewels for years to come.”

The City Park Golf Course Redesign process will continue to be community-driven as the recommended team’s initial proposal is refined with input from the public in the coming months. The guidelines and requirements driving the redesign were produced as part of a lengthy collaborative process with the public, representatives of the neighborhoods around City Park Golf Course and the golf community.

At an estimated $40M, the redesign will seamlessly integrate stormwater detention into the course and provide critical flood control to the surrounding community. The updated design will preserve the best features of the current course and retain the traditional Parkland style look and feel of City Park Golf Course, along with modernized amenities that will be enjoyed by neighbors and golfers alike for generations to come.

While development of the ultimate design for City Park Golf Course is ongoing and will continue to be refined with the community, the project is set to include:

• An 18-hole Parkland style course with par 71
• Additional course yardage on top of the current length of 6,708 yards, creating a more interesting and enjoyable golf experience for all skill levels
• A new, relocated clubhouse that allows for “returning nines” (the ninth and eighteenth holes end at the clubhouse), more efficient golf operations, west-facing patios and enhanced views, while preserving scenic views for the surrounding community
• A full driving range that accommodates all clubs and meets safety needs without netting
• Centralized facilities for the First Tee youth golf program with opportunity for independently-funded First Tee program enhancements
• Opportunities for sidewalks to improve community connectivity
• Preservation of healthy stands of high-priority and perimeter trees, as identified by the City Forester and the community, with new trees to be planted to meet the City’s tree canopy loss requirement
• Seamlessly integrated stormwater detention that will allow for a highly playable course that includes water features and significant year-round opportunities to improve the quality of stormwater entering the South Platte River

Collectively, the design/build team has completed more than 200 golf course projects. Its Colorado projects include the recently opened Mountain Course at Glacier Club in Durango. Prior to aligning with iCon, Irwin designed Indian Peaks Golf Course in Lafayette and the Mountain Course at the Club at Cordillera.

Denver City Council’s Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 25, to consider the recommended team for a City Council vote. The City, along with the selected team, is anticipated to meet with the community to refine the course design in late-summer and early-fall of this year. Preconstruction activities, such as utility relocations, will begin later this fall with course construction beginning late 2017. City Park Golf Course will remain open through the 2017 golf season and reopen in 2019.

The City Park Golf Course Redesign is part of the Platte to Park Hill: Stormwater Systems program that is working to update a century-old stormwater system, provide critical flood control, enhance community spaces, and protect public health and the environment.

Related Articles:

Denver’s City Park to Close in 2018

Denver to Accept Proposals for City Park Golf Course Redesign

The Case for City Park